Curated OER
Thanksgiving Traditions
Everyone celebrates traditions in different ways. Young writers share the ways their families celebrate Thanksgiving with a journal writing prompt and discussion activity.
Curated OER
Creative Writing Picture Prompt - Aliens
In this creative writing worksheet, students examine a picture prompt of an alien and a frog prince. They write a story about the picture.
Starfall
Marc Chagall
In this language arts worksheet, students are asked to draw a picture from their imagination. They are then to synthesize writing about their picture and write on the lines provided.
Starfall
Paul Gauguin
In this language arts instructional activity, students read a story starter, write a story and illustrate it. The topic is where students would like to live if they could live anywhere.
Starfall
Magic Seeds
In this Language Arts learning exercise, students color in a picture of flowerpot. Students also write a story or description about the illustration.
Starfall
My Hiding Place
In this writing worksheet, students read a story starter that asks if they have a special hiding place. Students write the story and illustrate it.
National Constitution Center
Born in the U.S.A: Music as Political Protest
Though often used in shows of patriotism, Bruce Springsteen's 1985 song "Born in the U.S.A." is critical of America's role in the Vietnam war and its treatment of American veterans. High schoolers analyze the song's lyrics in an activity...
Maryland Department of Education
The Concept of Identity Lesson 2: The Historical/Biographical Approach
"How does our environment shape our identity?" After researching biographical information about John Knowles and considering how these experiences are reflected in A Separate Peace, class members consider the strengths and weaknesses of...
Curated OER
Understanding Protagonists and Antagonists
How can you tell if a character is a villain? What about a hero? Work on literary analysis with an engaging language arts worksheet. After completing an activity about the four types of conflict, learners fill out a character map about a...
National Center for Families Learning
The Summer Fun Summer Learning Poetry Unit
Focus on poetry this summer to enhance those comprehension, fluency, and language skills with a set of resources intended to explore different types of poetry, specifically lyric poetry. The daily activities contain differentiation ideas...
Curated OER
Poetry Vocabulary
Consisting of a thorough and straightforward list of poetry terminology, the first part of this presentation would be a good introduction to a poetry unit, or a review for an upcoming poetry project. The list of terms is quite extensive,...
Literacy Design Collaborative
Analyzing Impact of Word Choice and Figurative Language in "Barbie Doll"
After a close reading Marge Piercy's poem "Barbie Doll," class members craft an AP®-style explanatory essay in which they analyze the diction and other figurative literary devices the poet employs to deliver her commentary on modern...
Starfall
Starting Something New
Students write a short composition about learning something new that is hard to do after reviewing the nouns, verbs, prepositions, adjectives, and conjunctions in a picture-word bank.
Curated OER
Picture Prompt: Kids by the Creek
Students finish the story in this picture prompt, which shows two kids fishing by a creek. The prompt lends well to creative writing, as well as autobiographical writing. A word box allows teachers to type words that they want students...
Curated OER
Picture Prompt: St. Patrick's Day Kids
A picture of two leprechauns with a pot of gold prompts students to finish the story. Students provide the title of the story, as well as the beginning, middle, and end. The prompt includes a text box for teachers to type in preferred...
Curated OER
Picture Prompt: Squirrel
In this story starter, a picture of a squirrel surrounded by falling leaves prompts students to think of a story idea. Students can then write the story, practicing a beginning, middle, and ending. The worksheet includes a word box area...
Curated OER
Picture Prompt: Bunnies
An excellent Easter or springtime activity, this prompt includes a picture of bunnies by a meadow, inspiring students to write a story based on the picture. Teachers can includes words from a spelling or vocabulary list in the text box...
Curated OER
Picture Prompt: Bee in a Jar
Allowing students to choose the point of view of a bee or of a baby, this assignment prompts students to respond to a picture of a bee in a jar by writing a short story about it. This assignment could be used for multiple grade levels...
Curated OER
Picture Prompts: Arctic Hares
Prompted by a picture of two white arctic hares, students complete the story based on their own creative ideas. This writing template could couple with a winter unit, an animal unit, or even as simple writing practice. A text box allows...
Curated OER
Picture Prompt: Dolphin Games
Kids who love dolphins will get a kick out of this prompt, which includes a picture of two dolphins playing with a beach ball. Using the picture for inspiration, students complete the beginning, middle, and ending of the story. A text...
Curated OER
Picture Prompt: Reindeer by Cottage
Given a picture of reindeer by a snowy cottage, students begin and complete a story that is inspired by the picture prompt. Teachers can add desired words in a word box before printing.
Curated OER
Picture Prompt: Squirrel and Skunk
This story starter provides students with a picture of a skunk and a squirrel, which they can use to write a story. The title, beginning, middle, and ending is up to the student. Additionally, the worksheet includes a text box for...
Curated OER
Picture Prompt: Elf at the North Pole Village
Great during the Christmas season, this prompt gives students a picture of an elf in the North Pole Village to inspire students to begin and end the story. A word box provides teachers the opportunity to add words from a spelling or...
Curated OER
Context Clues, Plot Structure, Conflict, and Personal Narrative Essay
What are the elements of a personal narrative? Get your class talking by reading "The Necklace" and "A Dangerous Game." The lesson focuses primarily on defining certain vocabulary terms (like context clues, plot, conflict, climax, etc.)...